tamil nadu - small history

8/14/2019 Tamil Nadu - Small History

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amil Nadu is bounded by Karnataka and Andhraradesh in the north and Kerala in the west. Theastern and western tips of the state are definedy the Point Calimere and Mudumalai wildlifeanctuaries while the northern extreme is Pulicatke and the southernmost tip is Kanyakumari, the

nd's end. Tamil Nadu is principally washed byhe Cauvery, originating in Coorg in neighbouringarnataka. Chennai is the capital of Tamil Nadu.

he Tamils have an ancient history. Under the Pallava, Chola & Pandya kings art,rchitecture & literature flourished and reached great heights. Tamil language has aistory which can be traced back to the age of the Tolkapiyam, the Tamil Grammarext generally ascribed to 500 B.C. Sangam literature of the Tamils dates back to500.C. The Tamils have always been a hospitable race, known for their generous nature

he People: Tamil, the official state language, is spoken by most of the people. Themain religions in the state are Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Jainism. Hindu

amilies owe allegiance to a number of sectarian monastic institutions, or maths, ofhich the most important is the Shankara Math at Kumbakonam. Although Tamil Naduone of the most urbanized states of India, it is still a rural land; agriculture is the

mainstay of life for about three-quarters of the rural population. Tamil Nadu is rich inandicrafts; notable among them are handloomed silk, metal icons, leather work,alamkari (hand-painted fabric, using natural dyes), brass, bronze, and copper wares,nd carved wood, palm leaf, and cane articles.

Festivals: Pongal festival, Jallikattu-Bull fightin January; Chitthiraj festival, Mamallapuramdance festival, Chidambaram dance festival,Mahamagam festival in Kumbakonam,Arubathimoovar festival at Chennai, Summer

festival in Ooty; Courtallm ritual bathingfestival, Kanthuri festival, Kavaddi festival onPalani Hills, Velankanni festival, Navarathri,Karthigai Deepam or Tamil Nadu's Festival ofLights, Music festival in Chennai duringDecember.

limate: The climate is essentially tropical. The temperature in summer seldom 43 Cnd in winter seldom falls below 18 C. The lowest temperatures are recorded duringecember and January, and the highest in April to June. The average annual rainfall,lling mainly between October and December, ranges between 25 and 75 inches. The

most precipitation falls in the Nilgiris and other hill areas.

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ART & CRAFTS IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

he heart of Tamilaham, the home of the Tamils or Tamil Nadu, lies around and south of the curvef the Eastern Ghats as it goes to merge with the Western Ghats in the Nilgiris. Some of the oldestrehistoric settlements of India have been found in this area, which has also been the cradle ofncient arts and crafts and industries, a land of innumerable, incomparable temples.

he development of the region has been attested by severalriters of olden times. Pliny the Younger of Rome and othersave written of the Tamil country in the 1st and 2nd centuryD as being a source of silk, fine muslin, ivory work andamonds, rubies, pearls and tortoise shell. Even earlier,autilya (circa 300 BC) referred to pearls of the Taamraparniver in Pandyan country and cotton fabrics from Madurai

nd sandalwood carvings.

he earliest monuments in stone belong to the Pallava period AD 550 to 912. Of these, caveculptures, rathas or chariots and other sculptures of Mamallapuram and Kanchipuram areutstanding. It may be noted that the Pallavas inscribed their epigraphs in Sanskrit.multaneously, the Pandyas, who ruled from 590 to 920 AD, left cave temples aroundruchirappalli and Namakkal. Their period is known for the Jain cave paintings of Sittannavasal inudukottai district.ut the classical age of Tamil culture belongs to the period of the Cholas, who ruled from AD 850 to279. The famous bronzes of Tamil Nadu reached their acme of development and the greatestatarajas appeared at this time. The other arts, including dance, music, theatre and literature,ttained their zenith.

In 1370, Madurai was taken over by the Vijayanagar kings,who consolidated their supremacy all over Tamil Nadu. Thiswas a period of frenzied artistic activity and the seeds weresown for the heavy stylization of various art forms. Much oftoday's art is derived from the love of the baroquedeveloped during this period.

fter the terrible battle of Talikota in 1564 and the rout of the Vijayanagar army, Tamil Nadu wasarved up by local chieftains. The most important of these were the Nayaks, of whom Thirumalaayak was a great patron of the arts. The various city-states were engaged in wars with each othernd frequently changed hands, going from local chieftains to the Marathas and the Musilms, till theyl finally fell to the British. After the Nayaks, the arts had little or no patronoge and rapidegeneration set in.

hrough all the turbulent political upheavals, religion remained a major motivating force in Tamiladu. The temple was the focus of activity, with the shops and houses planned around it. Thereould be no village without at least one temple -- in fact, a village without a temple is likened to

an without a soul. The role of religion was so important that most crafts had been adapted toerve religious needs - from the bronzes depicting the gods to simple basketry, where even theesigns and weave may have cosmic connotations. The deep, strong roots of religion provided anding force and a major role for the arts.

ecause classical culture had been a strong, uninterrupted influence and religion deep-rooted, the

viding line between art and folk crafts faded over time - the village terracottas became the greatronzes, the woodcarvings became great monuments in stone. Thus, it is very difficult to tell an artorm apart from a craft. The basic insularity of the culture protected it from extraneous influences,hich could have changed its form, as happened elsewhere in India. Instead, the creative genius of

he people and their love for the fine arts strengthened the styles from within. Indeed, it may even

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FAIRS & FESTIVALS IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

Pongal : The four-day Harvest festival is celebrated allover the state in January. The festival begins on thelast day of the Tamil month with Bhogi Pongal followedby Surya Pongal on the next day. It is on this day thatChakkara Pongal, a delicacy of harvest rice cooked withjaggery, ghee and cashew nuts is offered to the Sun

God. The third day, Mattu Pongal is dedicated to theCattle when cows are bathed and adomed withcolourful beads and flowers. Jallikattu, the bullfight isheld on the last day known as Kannum Pongal.

Skanda Sashti : Skanda Sashti is celebrated in Saivitetemples all over Tamilnadu on the sixth day in the holyhalf of the month of Aippasi (Oct 15 - Nov 15). Legendis that Skanda Sashti is celebrated on the destructionof evil by the Lord Kartikeya, son of Shiva. When itcomes to celebration there must be mention of thegrand celebrations at Tirupparankunram, Tiruchendur,

two of the 6 'Padai Veedu' temples of Murugan. AtSikkal, the festival image of Subramanya receives aspear, from the Ambal shrine, and breaks out in sweat,a day before the climax of the festival. More.........

Bhramotsavam : In most of the South Indian temples Bhramotsavam is celebrated. This is a

ten day long festival with the procession of festival images on gaily decorated mounts.Srinivasa Bhattar and Koti Sreekrishna of Cincinnati, present the significance ofBhramotsavam in SriVaishnava temples, and describe the daily events in the 9 day longBhramotsavam at Tirupati. More.........

Karthika Peruvizha: The Arunachales- warar Temple at

Tiruvannamalai is one of the grandest in India. The

Grand Kartikai Peruvizha, a complex festival involving amultitude of festivites and hundreds of thousands of

participants happens with amazing regularity, each year- and can be described as a case study in operations

management. More.........

Arudra Darisanam : The pre-dawn hours of the full moon night, in the tamil month of Margazhi

coinciding with the asterism of Tiruvadirai marks the auspicious time for Arudra Darisanam -of Nataraja in Saivite temples all over Tamilnadu. The 10 day festival (Margazhi Peruvizhaa) isdescribed in detail in this feature. More.........

Karthikai Deepam : The festival starts on the Panchamibefore Pournami (fifth day of the brighter half of themonth of Kartikai ie. Nov 15 - Dec 15) early in themorning with a brief flaghoisting ceremony(Dwajaarohanam). More.........
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WILD LIFE IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

ndira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park : Spread over 9.58 Sq.kms., thisanctuary can be reached through Topslip in Anamalai Hills on the Western Ghats. An

cological Paradise, this sanctuary encompasses a National Park with an Orea of 108q.km. Abutting Kerala on the West, this hill forest boasts of thick growth of trees, foldsf terrains with evergreen sholas. About 800 species of South Indian flora are distributedere.

ome of the many rare and endangered species of flora are:1. Combretum Ovalifolium, 2.ispyros nilagrica, 3. Gymnopteris Contaimirans (Fern), 4. Habebarai reriflora (Orchid), 5.olypodum pleroupus, 6. Alsophila sp, 7. Bulbophyllum sp., 8. Lasianthus uenuloses, 9.ngiopterris Erectra, 10. Gnetum Ula, 11. Impaliens Elegans, 12. Lycopodium cernum,3. Ranunculus reniformis and Osmunda Regulis.

his sanctuary nurtures Arboreal animals like lion tailed macaque, bonnet macaque,ommon Langur, Nilgiris Langur, Malabar Giant squirrel and Grizzled giant Squirrel. Theround animals listed are: Tiger, Panther, Elephant, Gaur, Pangolin, Sambar, Spottedeer, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Porcupine, Nilgiris Tahr,vet Cat and Toddy Cat. The Avifauna includes Racket Tailed Drongo, Black Headedriole, Paradise Flycatcher, Whistling Thrust, Emerald Dove, Green Pigeon, Tickell'sower Pecker, Rufus Wood Pecker, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Black Eagle, Great Indianalabar pied Horn Bill, Fiary Blue Bird and green Billed Malkhoha etc.

Kalakkadu wild life sanctuary : Kalakkadu andundanthurai Sancturies are situated in an extensivereserve as "tiger project Reserve". This Wild lifeanctuary is situated in an area of 233 Sq.km. inrunelveli District, including the foothills of westernhats and the adjoining area. The flora ranges from

orests of tropical wet ever-green to tropical dryeciduous and thorn forest at down hills. Lion tailedacaque, Nilgiri tahr, Sambar, Sloth bear, Gaur,ephant, Tiger, Flying Squirrel, Panther, wild dog,angoline are some of the wild

fe seen in the sanctuary. Besides, a wide range of birds and reptiles could be seen.rekking can be done with prior permission from the Forest (Wildlife) Department.rivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary : Located in Virudhunagar District, 45ms. off Virudhunagar Town, this sanctuary has a composition of dry deciduous forests,oist mixed deciduous forests and grass lands. Grizzled Giant Squirrels are aplenty.ther interesting species are flying squirrel, Tree Shrew, Elephant, Lion- tailed Macaque,lgiri Tahar, Mouse Deer, Barking Deer, and many a species of birds. This sanctuary can

e visited all through the year.

edanthangal and Karikili Bird's Sanctuaries : A grove of Barringatonia and Acacia niloticaees in a tank from part of the sanctuary. In additional dry evergreen scrub and thornrests can also be seen. Both these sanctuaries are situated in Kancheepuram district

nd sprawling in 30-ha and 61-ha area respectively. Vedanthangal is the oldest birdsanctuary in the country. The Villagers had documented their right to protect the winged

sitors to this sanctuary. The migrating birds come from far-off lands like Siberia,ustralia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for nesting and breeding.

reeding birds like Cormorants, Egrets, Grey Heron, Open-billed stork, Darter, Spoonbill,

White lbris, Night Herons, Grebes, Grey Pelican etc visit the Sanctuary. The population ofigratory birds included Garganey Teals, Shovellers, Pintails, Stilts, Sandpipers etc. Some

f the resident birds listed are Coots and Moorhen, Terns. In all 115 species of birds haveeen recorded in this sanctuary.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary - National Park : This sanctuary is located wheree Nilgiri Hills, the offshoot of the Western ghats meet the eastern ghats. The Mudumalai

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HILL STATIONS IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

KODAIKANAL - Kodaikanal , 'The Princess of Hill Stations"' is one of the most popularserene hill stations in India. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and abeautiful lake, Kodaikanal will mesmerize any visitor.

In a state where scenery and terrain is perhaps more varied than in any other part of thecountry, where the forested slopes of the majestic hills of the western Ghats vie with themagnificent beaches of the Coriander coast, it is indeed difficult to decide which is the bestfeature of multi-faceted Tamil Nadu.

Located 120 Kms away from Madurai, Kodaikanal isa beautiful hill station and is at an altitude of 2133mon the southern tip of the upper Palani hills in theWestern Ghats. Kodaikanal has a bracing climatewhere temperature do not vary much from summerto winter. Fruits like plums and plantains growabundantly on the wooded slopes apart from a widevariety of flowers, among which is the famous

Kurinji flower which blooms once in twelve years.

Kodai's most enchanting sights include the star shaped lake, spread over an area of 24

hectares where fishing allowed and boating facilities are available; one of the world's oldestSolar Observatories that was built in 1899; and the Orchidorium at the Sacred Heart Collegewhere about 300 species of orchids can be seen. There are also a number of picturesque walkslike Coaker's Walk and Priest's Walk. Kodai's best view points are Pillar Rocks, and Green ValleyView. Bear Shola Falls, Silver Cascade, Fairy Falls and Glen Falls are popular with picnickerswhile the Perumal Peak is a favorite with trekkers. The Kurinji Andover temple 3.2 Kms away isdedicated to Lord Subramanya.

Located 120 Km/75 mile away from Madurai, Kodaikanal is a beautiful hill station at an altitudeof about 2133 m on the southern tip of upper Palani hills in Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats. A

well known feature and the one that attracts a lot of tourists is the blooming of the famousKurinji flower, which blooms once in12 years.

Yercaud - Poor man's Ooty

stations. No mention is ever made, even in passing, of Yercaud. Majority of the people evenrefuse to accept that Yercaud is also a hill station. Yercaud is, in a way, the poor man's Ooty,much like elandai pazham being the poor man's apple! If Ooty is the queen of hills, Yercaud isthe princess! For the people in the Northern districts, suffering for centuries due to poverty,drought, famine, hunger and heat, the only silver lining is Yercaud. Yercaud which is 1515meters above sea level is 333 sq. km in extent. The maximum temperature is 29 Celsius only.The population is 32,746 and most of the people are tribal. A number of buses ply from Salemto Yercaud and back.The only mode of travel from Salem to Yercaud is by bus. It takes an hourof

negotiating 20 dangerous hair-pin bends to reach the

peak. One is gripped by fear as the bus negotiates thehair-pin bends: one breathes easy only after seeing thegreenery on either side of the road signaling the end oftravel! It is very scary if one looks down through thewindow! All along the route, monkeys playing pranks and

violet flowers on trees makes one wonder where one is.There is greenery all round - this is a new experience,for the city bred. The forests make one energetic andenthusiastic, like a child.


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Yercaud is yet another example of how the British appreciated our natural resources betterthan us. Yercaud is famous for coffee and pepper in much the same way Ooty and Kodai arefamous for tea. The English used Yercaud as a summer retreat and their legacy is all over theplace. Rows and rows of houses, much like ants moving in files, dot the entire hills. Thenumber of places to be seen in Yercaud may not be many, but each one of them is really worththe visit. One of the important places is the Pagoda point. The Pagoda Point, is so known

because a number of pyramid-like structures abound here. The Anjaneya temple is believed,by the locals, to be very powerful. One can get a full view of Salem from here.

You can go boating for Rs.20. The one kilometer lakeis surrounded by trees all round. It is a pleasurableexperience to go boating in this lake. Depending onone's budget one can take a two-seater or a six-seaterboat. Right on top of the hill stands the Servarayantemple in which Lord Servarayan resides with hisconsort Kaveri. This deity, the local people believe, isthe guardian angel for the 67 villages in and aroundYercaud. This temple is inside a cave and one has tobend and go in. People go inside in batches of three.

The cave extends beyond the temple and the locals say it extends all the way to the Kaveri inKarnataka, a distance of 480 km. Very few have explored the full cave. One of the shopkeepersMathaiyan said, "I have tried going inside this cave once. I could go only 3 km. I did this aftera strict fasting for 41 days. After 3 km. it is pitch dark; no ventilation; snakes all over. it isbelieved some saints, in the days gone by, had traveled the full length. Tippu Sultan wassupposed to have hidden in this cave during a war." To the south east of the temple is a veryold well and it is a wishing well. The locals believe if they are able to throw at least one stone,from three picked up from the temple, inside the well, with their backs to the well, they will

succeed in whatever they plan to do. If one walks down from the Temple, one reaches Killiyurfalls. Water, falls from a height of 300 m. During the rainy seasons, the locals say, these fallsare very dangerous. Next to the Servarayan temple is the Raja Rajeswari Amman temple.There is also the Jothi Samadhi ashram. The massive Rajarajeswari idol is installed in a sittingposture, and 4.5 feet tall. One can buy prasad, gem stones and lucky stones. There is also a

hall for meditation. One can get a full view of Namakkal and Salem from the "Ladies Seat". TheAnna Park is a quiet place to relax.The annual flower show is in May. Cardamom, pepper, orange are the main crops in Yercaud.Seasonal fruits are produced in plenty. The majority of the local population consists of dailywage-earners in the coffee estates. 30% of the houses were built during the British Raj. TheBritish legacy is there to be seen and felt in a number of places. A number of hotels built toInternational standards are well ensconced among trees. To enjoy every bit of nature in thishill, the British paved roads and built dwelling units. If the early architects of this hill stationwere to see the roads today, they would be shocked! The roads are pathetic - full of craters, ill-maintained, uncared for. The only hope is, Yercaud gets its fair share of the CentralGovernment's increased budget for tourism. The English who returned to their native land,after our Independence, would certainly have felt a sense of anguish and a tinge of sadness atbeing forced to leave this wonderful place, surrounded by Nature. October and November arethe best months here. Foreign tourists are more during the other months. Since Dassera

holidays are in October, there a lot of tourists from Bangalore. In November tourists fromNorth India visit Yercaud, taking advantage of Diwali holidays. Yercaud is less expensive thanother tourist destinations and is preferred by the middle class. By car, the expense is Rs.400only, for a full tour of Yercaud. Travel guide charges are Rs.150 only - the entire family cantour Yercaud on a budget of about Rs.1000.

KODAIKANAL SIGHT SEEING


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Lake View : A magnificent star-shaped lake glitters like ajewel amidst the Emerald Green wooded slopes. This 24hectare lake is skirted by 5 Kms long. Blacktopped road is a

focal point of Kodai. This lake was created in 1863 by SirVere Hentry Levinge(1885), who was the Collector ofMadurai, retired and settled in Kodai. He constructed thebund to form a lake and stocked the lake with fish. Hebrought the first boat from Tuticorin. In 1890, a boat clubwas formed and the members sailed in the boat.

BOAT SERVICES

1. T.T.D.C Boat House (9.00 A.M to 5.30P.M)

Pedal two seater Rs 15 ( 30 Mts)

Pedal four seater Rs 25 ( 30 Mts)

Rowing four seater Rs 20 ( 30 Mts)

2. Kodai Boat Club (9.00 A.M to 5.30 P.M)

Pedal two seater Rs 20 ( 30 Mts)

Pedal four seater Rs 30 ( 30 Mts)

Single boat rowing Rs 20 ( 30 Mts)

Double boat rowing Rs 30 ( 30 Mts)

3. Carlton Hotel Boat House

Pedal four seater Rs 52.25 (1 hour)

Rowing six seater Rs 36.60 (1 hour)

Shikara two seater Rs 105 (1 hour)

Bergium Lake : The Lake which supplies drinking water to Periyakulam town is 21 Kms fromKodaikanal (Beyond the Pillar Rocks). It is a fine picnic spot offering beautiful scenery. In1864,Douglas Hamilton wrote : - "The Vicinity of this lake is in my opinion by far the best sighton the Hills".

Brynt Park : This Park is situated on the eastern side of the lake. It is noted for flowers,hybrids and grafts. Cut flowers are exported from here. A glass house which shelters over finevarieties of flowers can be seen here. Flower show conducted every year during May, as a partof Summer Festival is to be seen by one and all.The Flora and Fauna Museum is maintained by the Sacred Heart College. A TheologicalSeminary was founded in 1895. It is devoted to the archaeological remains and the flora andfauna of the hills. One of the best Orchidorium in the country with more than 300 species isalso located here. It is about 5.6 Kms from the lake. A Spanish Father Ugarthe, contributed hismajor collections to the Museum. A wide ranging collection of birds classified into ground birds,water birds, tree birds and large high flying birds such as Black Eagle, Bengal Vulture, HoneyBuzzard, Crested Hawk-Eagle.

Coakers Walk : This hill-edge path way was identified by Er. Coakers in 1872. About aKilometer from the lake, Coakers Walk runs along a steep slope on the southern side of Kodai.It offers some of the best views of the Plains. Entry fee is collected per head here.

Silver Cascade : This is Located on the Ghat road leading to Madurai and is about 8Kms fromKodaikanal. The overflow of Kodai Lake comes down here as 180 feet high falls. If thetemperature of water suits, tourists can take bath Kodaikanal is rich in Flora and Fauna. It hasa unique plant. The Kurinji, which blossoms once in 12 years, makes the hill slopes a "Blaze ofPurple".

Bear Shola Falls :About 1.6 Kms from the lake, Bear Shola Falls can be reached through apicturesque rugged hill path. This is an ideal picnic spot.


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picturesque, green Udhagamandalam better known as Ooty is the most popular hill station inthe South. Located in the Western Ghats at a height of 2240m, Udhagamandalam is theheadquarters of the Nilgiris district where the two Ghats meet. Nature has been generous withthis region which is by far the most beautiful in the state. Apart from coffee and teaplantations, trees like conifers, eucalyptus, pine and wattle dot the hillside inUdhagamandalam and its environs. Summer temperature is rarely higher than 25c with aminimum of 10c and winter is are distinctly cooler with a high of 21c and a low 5c.Curiously enough, this slice of paradise remained unknown to the great southern dynasties andit took the British to discover it in the early 1800s. They were however, not the first inhabitantsof this land as a tribe called Todas had been living there long before the British came, claimingthat the Nilgiris had been their home since time immemorial. But the credit for modernizingUdhagamandalam and making it accessible goes to the British who constructed the first

railway line in the area and made it the summer capital of the Madras Presidency.About Udhagamandalam : Settlement in Udhagamandalam began in 1822 with theconstruction of the Stone House by John Sullivan, the then Collector of Coimbatore. Thebungalow which is locally called Kal Bangla is one of the landmarks of Udhagamandalam and isnow the Chamber of the Principal of the Government Arts College. Not many years after theconstruction of the Stone House, several other English cottages with pretty gardens, largebungalows of top officials in the Government are built.

Even today the atmosphere of the Raj lingers in places like the Club where snooker wasinvented by a subaltern named Neville Chamberlain, the Nilgiri Library with its rare andvaluable collection of books on Udhagamandalam and St. Stephen's Church which wasUdhagamandalam's first church.

The cemetery near the church has the oldest British tombstones in the town and include those

of John Sullivan's wife and daughter among other prominent personalities.

South Indian Tea has gained recognition far and wide. India is the fifth largest tea producingbelt in the world after China. In 1991, South India exported 50 million kg to over 30 countries.Tea and Tourism Festival is celebrated in the Nilgiris Jointly by the Department of Tourism,Government of Tamil Nadu and Ministry of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu and Ministry ofTourism, Government of India in every January/February. Cultural programmes, visits to TeaEstates and factories, fun and frolic etc., mark this celebrations. Come to Nilgiris, during thisfestival, when tea lovers from all over the world converge. An occasion not to be missed.South Indian Tea has gained recognition far and wide. India is the fifth largest tea producingbelt in the world after China. In 1991, South India exported 50 million kg to over 30 countries.Tea and Tourism Festival is celebrated in the Nilgiris Jointly by the Department of Tourism,

Government of Tamil Nadu and Ministry of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu and Ministry ofTourism, Government of India in every January/February. Cultural programmes, visits to Tea

Estates and factories, fun and frolic etc., mark this celebrations. Come to Nilgiris, during thisfestival, when tea lovers from all over the world converge. An occasion not to be missed.PLACES OF INTEREST:

Botanical Garden: A variety of exotic and ornamental plants adorn this garden which is thevenue for the Flower Show held in May every year. There is a fossil tree trunk 20 million yearsold in the midst of the garden.

Lake: This artificial lake was constructed in 1824 by mr. John Sullivan, the then Collector of


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Coimbatore. Boating is possible from 08.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs on all days. The lake garden andtoy trains rides are other attractions.

Udhagamandalam: This Queen of hill stations, known as Ooty, is in Nilgiri mountain rangesin Tamil Nadu. At a height of 2268 meters, Ooty is known for its salubrious climate and scenic

beauty.

The nearest airport is Coimbatore (100 Kms). By rail it is connected by narrow gauge. By roadit is 152 Kms from Mysore, 293 Kms from Bangalore & 271 Kms from Cochin.

Government Museum: The Government Museum, Mysore road, has items of tribal objects,district's ecological details and representative sculptural arts and crafts of Tamilnadu.The Mukurthi Peak & Mukurthi National Park: Mukurthi Peak is about 40 Km/24 mile from Ooty.The Mukurthi National Park is located on the South Eastern corner of the Nilgiris Plateau. Thearea contains a viable population of Nilgiri Thar (Hermitages hilocrius). The silent Valley islocated on the Western side of these ranges. Fascinating feature of the Mukurthi Sanctuary isits endemism and relationship with Himalayan Flora and Fauna.

Ketty Valley View: Located on the road to Coonoor, this idyllic spot is a cluster of tinyVillages that extend to the plains of Coimbatore and Mysore plateau.

Pykara: Situated about 21 Kms/13 Mile on the Ooty-Mysore Road, boasts of well protectedfenced Shoals, Toda settlement, undisturbed grassy meadows and also a good wildlife habitat.The Pykara Dam and the reservoir attracts many tourists.

Glenmorgan (17 Km/10 Mile): This is an Electricity Board. (EB) winch carries staff from

Glenmorgan view point to power house at Singara. All the four Kms of the winch track passesthrough undisturbed shoals and wildlife habitat. Prior permission of EB authorities should beobtained to enter the view point zone. There are about ten Toda (tribal) settlement.

Upper Bhavani : 10 Km/6 Mile from Korakundah and about 20 Kms/12 Mile from Avalanchi.Some of the best shoals like the Thar Shola lies Enroute. The area is a rich and undisturbedwildlife habitat. From Bangithappal via Sispara one can trek to Silent Valley.

Avalanchi : Located at a distance fo 28 Km/17 mile from Ooty, a beautiful lake surrounded bya thick shoal where even sunlight cannot penetrate and abundant with a wide variety ofavifauna is a Nature Lover's Paradise.

Western Catchments : It is about 20 Kms/12 Mile from Parsons Valley. It consists of RollingGrassy downs interspersed with temperature shoals occupying depression and valleys.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary: Lying in the Nilgiris District abutting Kerala & KarnatakaState, this is situated at an elevation of 1000 meters and extends over an area of 321 sq.Kms. The wildlife includes Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer,

Mouse, Wild Boar, Porcupine etc.

Doddabetta: It is the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiris and is 10 Kms / 6.2 Milefrom Ooty. It lies at the junction of Western & Eastern Ghats and offer beautiful vistas of theNilgiri Hills ranges. There is a telescope house run by TTDC.Kalhatti Water Falls: It is located on the Kalhally slopes and about 13 Kms/ 8 Mile from Ooty.

Wenlock Downs: A vast expanse of understanding landscape offering Gymkhana Club, theGovernment Sheep Farm and Hindustan Photo Films Company besides pleasure of long stroll


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on quiet road.

Elk Hills: A wide range and uninterrupted view of Ooty and the Love dale Valley can be hadfrom here.

Snowden Peak: Situated at the Kothagiri Road, it offers a picturesque view of Mysore.

Trekking Routes: A number of Trek routes have been identified. Trekking is also organized inbreath taking picturesque routes.

Hang - Gliding: Hang - Gliding courses are also organized during March to May every year,with the assistance of Dept. of Tourism.

Angling: Good trout, Carp and mixed water fishing is possible in various streams and lakes inthe Nilgiris. Fishing license for a fee is issued by the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Fish Dale,Udhagamandalam near bus stand.

COONOOR

The tranquil hill resort of Coonoor, standing at the head of the Hulikal ravine, 27 km north ofMettupalayam and 19 kms south of Ooty, at an altitude of 1,858 metres, on the south easternside of the Dodabetta mountains is the second largest hill station in the Nilgiri hills. Theprofoundity in which different varieties of flowers are found in Coonoor fascinates the tourists.Sunflowers, marigolds and rhododendrons are some of the flowers growing wildly here. The

vast extending tea bushes are pleasing sights to see. The weather is pleasant and soothing.

Places to visit

Coonoor's many hillocks and mounds are perfect for trekking. A popular pastime is birdwatching, as an extensive variety of birds can be spotted at the Nilgiris. Apart from the variedspecies of vultures, eagles and owls, song birds like bulbuls, thrushes, babblers, larks cuckoos,

robins and several others are a treat to urbanites who are affected by noise pollution.

Sim's Park is a well planned park cum botanical gardenon the slopes of a ravine with hundreds of rose varieties.A fruit and vegetable show is held every year in May.

The Lamb's Rock ( 5.5 km ) offers a spectacular view ofthe Coimbatore planes. The cliff sinks hundreds ofmetres into the heart of dense jungle.

Dolphin's Nose ( 12 Km ) has spectacular views onto St. Catherine's Falls on one side andCoonoor and Kotagiri streams, tributaries of the Bhavani, on the other.

A Tea and Tourism Festival is held in Coonoor every winter.

To visit a Tea or Coffee plantation, contact UPASI (United Planters' Association of SouthernIndia), "Glenview", Coonoor.

YERUCAD

Is situated in the Shevaray Hills at a height of 1,515 metres from the real-level. Coffeeplantations and verdant locations shelter the calm hill station of Yercaud.


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Some people believe that these hills were part of the ancient megalith-builders' domain whichstretched from Cornwall through Brittany and Iberia to India. Clearly visitors have beenstreaming into Yercaud from well before recorded history.Around Yercaud : Enroute to Yercaud, you will come across the textile town of Salem. Ethnichandloom fabrics will be available at half the price, you would pay elsewhere.

Brightly coloured idols catch the right of the travelers, situated at the left side of the road justbefore the road begins to climb the mountains. There guardian deities, unique to Tamil Naduonly, are worshipped as protectors of villages and are often known as Aiyanars.

On the way up the winding hill road with its 20 hairpin bends, stop at a thatched wayside stallselling 'Fresh Garden Produce': packets of cloves and pepper. Then come the coffee plantationsbefore entering cottage-dotted Yercaud.You can amble around leisurely, or do a tandem tour of the lake in a pedal boat, or hire a taxito 'do' the sights. 3 km away is the rocky escarpment overlooking the plains. It is known asLady's Seat and some wag has named another viewpoint as Gent's Seat.

Pyramid point, 3 km away, has cairns of stones and was once a Stone Age fortress shrinebefore the new temple was built. 7 km from the lake is the Servaroyan Temple with a modern,

striped, facade leading to an old cave temple.

Once you get into this soothing, lake-centred, quiet and undisturbed green place, you don'thave to do anything but unwind

MAJOR CITIES IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

CHENNAI : Chennai, also known as Madras, the fourth largest city in India and the capital of

Tamilnadu. The city sprawls over more than 70 square km. The population of Chennai is 5.9million. Many of the Indian languages are spoken in Chennai, though the main language ofChennai is Tamil. For travelers with an interest in the colonial history of India, Chennai hasmuch worth exploring and abundant transport operations make other parts of the countryreadily accessible.

For more than 2000 years the area has been popular withseafarers, spice traders and cloth merchants. The 16thcentury saw the arrival of the Portuguese, followed by theDutch. In 1693, the British East India Company established asettlement in the fishing village of Madraspatnam.For St.George was constructed over a period of 15 years and finallycompleted in 1653.

George town grew in the area of the fort and was

granted its first municipal charter in 1688 by James II,making it the oldest municipality in India. During the18th and 19th centuries, French and British traderscompeted for supremacy in India. In the 19th century,the city became the seat of the Madras presidency, oneof the four divisions of British imperial India. Afterindependence, it continue to grow into what is now asignificant southern gateway.

COONOOR : Coonoor is surrounded by the tea plantations, and at an altitude of 1850 m,Coonoor is the first of the three Nilgiri hill station-Udhagamandalam (Ooty ), Kotagiri andCoonoor - that you come to when leaving behind the southern plains. Like


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Ooty, it's on the toy train line from Mettupalayam. WhileKotagiri had the Kotas, and Ooty the Todas, so Coonoorwas home to the Coon hill tribe. ( The suffix, 'oor',means village. ) This now bustling town appears rathersquashed between the hills and it's only after climbingup out of the busy market area with the bus and trainterminals that you'll get a sense of what hill stations

were originally all about. For this reason, too, most ofthe better accommodation is in Upper Coonoor

THANJAVUR : Thanjavur was the ancient capital of the Chola kings whose origins, go back tothe beginning of the Christian era. Power struggles between these groups were a constantfeature of their early history, with one or other gaining the ascendancy at various times. TheCholas' turn for empire building came between 850 and 1270 AD and ,at the height of theirpower. Probably the greatest chola emperors were Raja Raja who was responsible for buildingthe Brihadishwara Temple

(Thanjavur main attraction ) and his son Rajendra-Iwhose navy competed with the Arabs for controls of theIndian Ocean trade routes and who was responsible forbringing Srivijaya under Chola control.

Thanjavur is famous for its distinctive art style , which isusually a combination of raised and painted surfaces.Krishna is the most popular of the gods depicted and inthe Thanjavur school his skin is white rather than thetraditional blue-black.

The enormous gopurams of the Brihadeshwara Temple dominate Thanjavur. The temple itself,between the Grand Anicut Canal and the old town is surrounded by fortified walls and a moat.The old town, too used to be similarly enclosed, but most of the walls have now disappeared.What remains are winding streets and alleys and the extensive ruins of the palace of theNayakas of Madurai.

COIMBATORE : One of the most important cities of Tamilnadu, Coimbatore is called the

'Manchester of South India' and is the third largest city in the state. Theheadquarters of the Nilgiri region, its exposure to thePalghat Gap of the Western Ghats Coimbatore aSalubrious climate. A highly industrialised city, it is thecentre of textile manufacturing in the state - there areover a hundred mills in and around Coimbatore. Primarilya business centre, it is known for the manufacturing ofmotor pump sets and various engineering and electronicgoods.

UDACAMANDALAM (OOTY): This famous hill station in the Nillgiri Hills was founded by the

British in the early part of the 19th century to serve as the summer headquarters of theMadras government. Untill about two decades ago, 'Snooty' Ooty resembled an unlikely

comnination of southern England and Australia: single-storey stone cottages, bijou fencedflower gardens, leafy, winding lanes, and tall eucalypt stands covering the otherwise barrenhilltops.


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The other main reminders of the British period are thestone churches, the private schools, the Ooty club,various maharajas' summer palaces and the terracedbotanical gardens.

Udhagamandalam (Ooty), is spread over a large areaamongst rolling hills and valleys. Between the lake and

the racecourse are the railway station and bus stand .From either of these it's a 10 minute walk to the marketarea ans 20 minutes to Ooty's real centre, Charing Cross(the junction of Coonoor, Kelso and Commercial roads ).

MADURAI : More than 2500 years old ancient city, situated on the banks of the river

Vaigai Madurai is believed to have been built by the Pandyan KingKulasekara. Legend has it that drops of Maduram (nectar) fell from LordShiva's locks when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple forhim. Madurai's history can be divided into four periods, beginning over 2000years ago, when it was the capital of the Pandyan Kings. Apart from a briefperiod it fell to the Cholas, Madurai remain with Pandyan till the decline ofthe empire. The 200year old reign of the Natakas marked the golden erawhen art, architecture and learning scaled new heights.

THIRUCHIRAPPALLY : The most famous landmark of this bustling town is the Rock FortTemple, a spectacular monument perched on a massive rocky outcrop which rises abruptlyfrom the plain to tower over the old city. It is reached by a flight of steep steps cut into therock and from its summit you get a fantastic view of the town plus its other main landmark.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. This temple is one of the largest and most interesting temple

complexes in India, built on an island in the middle of the Cauvery River and covering astaggering 2.5 sq km.

Trichy itself has a long going back to the centuries before

Christian era when it was a Chola citadel. The town and itsfort as it stands today, was built by the Nayaks of Madurai.It was one of the main centres around which the wars ofthe Carnatic were fought in the 18th century during theBritish-French struggle for supremacy in India.The most famous landmark of this bustling town is theRock Fort Temple, a spectacular monument perched on amassive rocky outcrop which rises abruptly from the plainto tower over the old city.It is reached by a flight

steep steps cut into the rock and from its summit you get a fantastic view of the town plus itsother main landmark, the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. This temple is one of the largest andmost interesting temple complexes in India, built on an island in the middle of the CauveryRiver and covering a staggering 2.5 sq km.

Trichy itself has a long going back to the centuries before Christian era when it was a Cholacitadel. The town and its fort as it stands today, was built by the Nayaks of Madurai. It was oneof the main centres around which the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18th centuryduring the British-French struggle for supremacy in India.

VELLORE : Vellore, 145 km from Chennai, is a dusty, semi rural bazaar town. For tourists, it

is noteworthy only for the Vijaynagar fort and its temple, which are in an excellent state ofpreservation and worth visiting.The town has a modern church built in an old British cemetery,which contains the tomb of a captain who died in 1799' of


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excessive fatigue incurred during the glorious campaignwhich ended in the defeat of Tipoo Sultan'. Here, too is amemorial to the victims of the little known 'VelloreMutiny' of 1806. The mutiny was instigated by thesecond son of Tipoo Sultan , who was incacerated in thefort at that time, and was put down by a task force sentfrom Arcot. Vellore is now best known for its hospital,

one of the best in the country. The people who comehere from all over India for medical care give thishumble town a cosmopolitan feel..

RAMESWARAM : Rameswaram known as the Varanasi of the south, Rameswaram is a major

pilgrimage centre for both Shaivites and Vaishnavaites as it was here that Rama ( anincarnation of Vishnu in the Indian epic the Ramayana ) offered thanks to Siva. At the town'score is the Ramanathaswamy Temple, one of the most important temples in southern India.

Rameswaram is on an island in the Gulf of Mannar,connected to the mainland at Mandapam by rail and byone of India's engineering wonders, the Indira GandhiBridge. The bridge took 14 years to build and wasopened by Rajiv Gandhi late in 1988.The town lies on theisland's eastern side and used to be the port from whichthe ferry to Talaimannar ( Sri Lanka ) departed beforepassenger services were suspended more than a decadeago. as a result, there are now very few foreign visitors.

KANYAKUMARI : Kanyakumari was once referred to as the "ALEXANDRIA OF THE EAST".This

place has been a great centre for art,culture,civilization and pilgrimage for years. It was also afamous centre for commerce and trade. During the early part of the 8th century A.D,Islamentered the southern part of India through the sea routewith traders and Missionaries.Through St.Thomas,

Christianity arrived in this area in 52 A.D. Islam,Christianity and Jainism religions have greatly

contributed to the Architectural wealth and literalheritage of this place. Kanyakumari was also under thecontrol of the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas and theNayaks who were the great rulers of South India. Thearchitectural beauty of the temples are the beautifulwork of these rulers.

KANCHIPURAM : Kanchipuram is one of the seven sacred cities of India and was,successively, capital of the kingdom of the Pallavas, Cholas and rajas of Vijayanagar. DuringPallavas times, it was briefly occupied by the Chalukyans of Badami, and by the Rashtrakutaswhen the battle fortunes of the Pallavas kings reached a low ebb

Kanchipuram is a temple city and its many gopurams can be seen from a long wayaway. Of the original 1000 temples, there are still about125 left spread out across the city. Many of them are thework of the later Cholas and of the Vijayanagarkings.Kanchi is also famous for its hand-woven silkfabrics. This industry originated in Pallava times, whenthe weavers were employed to produce clothing andfabrics for the kings .Other than the temples,Kanchipuram is a dusty and fairly nondescript town andthere's precious little to see or do except when thetemple car festivals take place.


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MAMALLAPURAM : The town of temples, sand and sea - Mamallapuram, formely known as

Mahabalipuram is world renowned for its beautiful Shore Temple. It was once the main portand naval base of the great Pallava kingdom and was later made the capital of this Dynasty.'Mamall ', meaning the great wrestler was the name given to king Narasimha Varman I. Mostof the temples here is dedicathe Lord Siva and Vishnu, were completed between 630 A.D and728 A.D during the reign of Narasimha Varman II.

At the annual Mamallapuram Dance Festival , sand ,water and temples set the backdrop for the graceful andevocative dancers who celebrates the ancient Indianculture and tradition. This quaint little town ofMamallapuram is enriched with ancient and splendidsculptures. Each of the beautiful works of arts has astory to tell. Like the large bas relief that narrates thetale of Arjuna's Penance. Arjuna here, is shown standingon one leg to please Lord Shiva into helping him winback the Pandava Empire.

BEACHES IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

Marina Beach : One of the longest in the world, the beach has a wide expanse of

glistening golden sands.The area fronting the beach isbeautiful landscaped. Worthy of special mention is agroup of bronze figures by the renowned Indian sculptor,Debi Prosad Rai Chaudhari, eulogizing the 'Dignity ofLabour'. These apart, the beach-front offers somesplendid examples of Indo-Saracenic architecture suchas the Madras University, the Chepauk Palace and thePresidency College.

Muttukkadu : A Backwater and estuary, Muttukkadu is ideal for rides on motorized boats or for

wind surfing. Hire a pedal boat or a row boat for cruising leisurely. Muttukkadu is ideally suitedfor angling and fishing.

Rameswaram : The serene beach and shallow water here are ideal for swimming and

sunbathing.

Kanyakumari : India's Land's End. Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin is unique in

being surrounded by three seas, the bay of Bengal, theIndian Ocean and the Arabian sea, and the confluence iscalled 'Thriveni Sangamam'. Here one can get a breath-taking view of the Sunrise and Sunset at their best. The

multicoloured sand is yet another unique feature of thebeach here. Kanyakumari is a famous pilgrim centre,too.

Mandapam : This is the mainland linking the island of Rameswaram. It is the Gateway to many

small islands. It is bestowed with a quite beach for sun and surf.

Kurusadai Islands : This is an ecological paradise situated off Mandapam. It is notable for coral


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reefs and rare species of marine life such as Dolphins. Permission from the FisheriesDepartment in Chennai is necessary to visit the Islands.

Covelong : 40 kms away from the hustle and bustle of Chennai, Covelong is a salubrious

village, brisk with fishing activities.

MUSEUMS IN TAMILNADU, INDIA

Government State Museum : This museum in Chennai is best known for two importantcollections: sculptures from Amarvati and its famed Bronze Gallery. The Amaravati collectionhas panels, pillars, carved railings and Buddha statues of Milky white marble from a Buddhiststupa excavated at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. There are bronze sculptures from the laterPallava, Chola, Hoysala and Chalukya periods

Fort St. George Museum : The museum displayscollection of portraits and paintings of former governors ofChennai as well as of English royalty. Among the other

objects on view are weapons, coins, porcelain and thecommunion vessels of the church.

Thanjavur Art Gallery : The former palace of the Nayaks of Thanjavur once viceroys ofthe Vijaynagara rules and later hereditary rulers, is a wonderful and

extravagant piece of architecture, built in 1600. The hugeenclosed compound encompasses a complex which includes theArt Gallery, the Saraswati Library and the Sangeetha Sabha orMusic Hall.A gigantic tower, the arsenal, decorated with bands ofarches form the external facade. One enters into a hall which isthe sculpture gallery where examples of south Indian stonesculptures dating from the Pallava to Nayak period are exhibited.

Government Museum : The various sections in the museum deal with archaeology,anthropology, zoology, numismatology, botany and geology. The museum has a fine collectionof bronzes which are not allowed to be photographed.

tamil nadu - small history

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